Artificial bait



Filed April 4, 1950 FIG.

FIG. 3

. INVENTOR. JAMES A. ELLIS ATTORNEY United rates Patent C ARTIFICIAL BAIT James A. Ellis, Coloma, Calif.

Application April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,936

Claims. (Cl. 43-4215) This invention relates to artificial bait, such as a plug, providing articulating body members.

There have been innumerable types of artificial baits 1n the form simulating minnows, t'rogs, etc., as well as plugs of great variety. in some types, provision was made for articulation between body members of the plug in order to simulate to some-extent at least, movement of a natural or living organism. The points used in provlding such articulating body members have all exliibi-teda ma or defeet, as dlscovered by the inventor herein, in that they permitted light to pass between the body members in certain positions of the plug or bait with the result that the fish was immediately aware of such unnatural phenomenon and would not take the bait or plug. Further the manner of securing articulation between the body members was inadequate.

Among the objects of the present invention is an armficial bait 'or plug which permits articulation of body members without permitting light to pass between the body members downwardly into the water during movement of the body members with respect to one another.

Other objects include enhancement of articulation between body members.

Still further objects include the production of desired movement simulating natural bait action in the water.

Still further objects and advantages will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood that such more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only, and not by way of limitation since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present inventlon.

In accordance with that more detailed description, there is shown in the accompanying drawing, in

Figure 1, a perspective view of a plug produced in accordance with the present invention; in t Figure 2, a transverse section through the plug of Figure l; and in Figure 3, a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In accordance with the present invention, enhanced articulation between body members of artificial bait is produced while at the same time the passage of light 1s reduced vertically between the body members downwardly or angularly downwardly into the water. In addition the mounting of the body members for movement w 1th respect to each other provides for enhanced articulation and desirably both of these features, namely enhanced articulation and restriction of light passage are used simultaneously. For these purposes the body members which may be two or more in number are joined together by a horizontally positioned plate having a width substantially equal to the thickness of the body members where attached to the plate, each of the body members being pivotally attached to the plate whereby articulated movement of the body members with respect to each other is obtained. In such case, the movement of the body members with respect to each other is controlled by the connectlng plate and since this is maintained substantially in horizontal position in all positions of use, light passage between the body members downwardly into the water 18 sllght.

Furthermore to increase or enhance the movement of the body members, pins carried by each body member pass through perforations in the plate, and enlargement in diameter of at least one such perforation with respect to the diameter of the pin permits or provides for play or increased movement of such body member with respect to the plate and the other body member. Desirably each 2,700,239 Patented Jan. 25, 1955 perforation is enlarged in diameter with respect to the pin passing therethrough whereby still greater articulation is possible. Also by having a slotin each body member in which the plate is positioned, and making each Such Slot of greater height than the thickness of the Plate therein, ease of movement laterally about the pins is obtained and in addition an up-and-down movement of each body member is provided with respect to the plate just as if the body member were horizontally pivoted on the platewhile at the same time light passage between the body members downwardly into the water is largely prevented. To provide articulation Without light permeation is an important feature of the invention.

While the plate may take a variety of shapes for any given types of body members, it is desirably, in longitudinal cross-section, in the form of an inverted rather flat or flattened V-shape, each arm of the V carrying a body member desirably mounted as described above. This gives a more-or-less rather angularly set position of one body member with respect to the other.

The bait is made up of body members joined together, two such body members being illustrated, a forward body member 1 and a posterior body member 2. The body member 1 may desirably have a stream lined head 3 having its front-end inclined downwardly and concave as shown at 3' and provided with a recess 4 in which a line receiving element 5 such as a screw-eye may be placed. Any number and type of books 6, 6 may be attached in any desired way to the bait in any desired or preferred arrangement as by screw-eyes 7, 7. The general contour and configuration of the body members is desirably a stream lined one. In top plan, the plug gives a rather flattened eifect having'its greatest width at the head end 3 from which it tapers backwardly gradually to the narrowest width at the extreme posterior end. Body member 2 thus forms a continuation of body member 1. In elevation, the depth of the plug varies to a small extent the greatest thickness being at approximately just behind the head. 3 and tapering back very gradually.

Body member 1 is desirably provided with a slot or groove 8 while body member 2 has a corresponding slot or groove 9, and within these slots 8, 9 the plate 10 is placed for joining the separate body members 1 and 2 together. The plate 10 is or" a width substantially equal to the thickness of the body members where attached to the plate.

Each body member carries a pin 11 passing transverse- 13/ through the slot in the member and through a perforation 12 in the plate, each pin having a head 13 at each end to hold it securely on the body member. Desirably each perforation 12 is enlarged in diameter as compared with the pin 11 therein to provide an enhanced movement of each body member with respect to the plate and with respect to each other. The plate 10 is shown as substantially an inverted V in longitudinal cross-section to give an angular positioning of the body members 1, 2 with respect to each other. Desirably also, the rear wall 14 defining the slot 8 is arcuate to prevent any binding action and so too the rear wall 15 defining the slot 9 is also arcuate.

Each of the slots 8, 9 is desirably given a height greater than the thickness of the plate 16 therein to permit an upand-down movement of each body member with respect to the plate. Variation in the height of the slot may be used to increase or decrease such movement.

It will be seen that a great variety of movement and play is permitted between the body members while materially restricting the passage of light between them downwardly into the water. The impact of the water against the inclined head 3 gives a submerging movement to the bait which by the pull on the line may be converted into undulations. Further as illustrated in Figure 2, since the pins 11 are mounted in perforations 12 to provide play, and the slots 8, 9 are higher than the thickness of plate 10, an up-and-down movement is permitted. Also, as shown in Figure 3, a limited horizontal pivoted movement, either clockwise or counterclockwise, is possible about each pin 11 as a pivot or pintle. Any combinations of these movements may take place and various components of such movements interplay with each other making possible a variety of action of the bait in the water.

As indicated, the concave portion of the head has an important efiect on the action of the plug. This portion 1s concave longitudinally beginning at the widest part in front and tapering up and in to the center on top as shown in Figure 1 at 3'. When the concave portion is not present, the action of the water on a flat surface tends to pull the plug straight down, whereas the concave head has a tendency tosend the plug to one side or the other until the pull of the retrieving line is strong enough to turn the plug slightly to the other side, when it darts to the opposite side until the same force pulls it back again. The concavity need not be more than & of an inch at the front or widest end.

Artificial bait of this character has proved an efiicacious lure under a variety of fishing conditions in all kinds of streams, lakes, etc.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim: t

1. An artificial bait comprising separatebody members and a plate joining said members and permitting limited movement of the body members with respect to each other, said plate having a width substantially equal to the thickness of the body members where attached to the plate, the plate in longitudinal cross-section being of inverted flattened V-shape, the plate having two perforations one each for reception of a pin carried in each body member whereby each member is pivotally attached to the plate, at least one of the perforations being so much larger in diameter than the pin therein that the pin fits loosely in the perforation, whereby articulated movement of the body members with respect to each other and with respect to the plate is enhanced upon use of the bait in water.

2. An artificial bait comprising separate body members and a plate joining said members and permitting limited movement of the body members with respect to each other said plate being provided with perforations for reception of a pin carried on each body member to provide a pivotal mounting, the plate in longitudinal cross-section being of inverted flattened V-shape, at least one perforation being so much larger in diameter than the pin therein that the pin fits loosely therein and articulated movement of at least one bodymember with respect to the plate and with respect to the other body member is enhanced.

3. An artificial bait comprising separate body members and a plate joining said members and permitting limited movement of the body members with respect to each other, said plate in longitudinal cross-section being of inverted flattened V-shape.

4. An artificial bait comprising separate body members and a plate joining said members and permitting limited movement of the. body members with respect to each other, said plate having a width substantially equal to the thickness'of the body members where attached to the plate, each member being pivotally attached to the plate, the plate in longitudinal cross-sectionbeing of inverted flattened V-shape,.whereby articulated movement of the body members with respect to each other is obtainable upon use of the bait in water.

5. An artificial bait as set forth in claim 3 in which the plate has a width substantially equal to the thickness of the body members Where attached to the plate to reduce light passage vertically between the body members when the plate is in horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sullivan Mar. 12, 1889 

